New Aquitaine by Train: A 7-Day Car-Free Itinerary
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Published on 7/3/27
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Are you looking for practical tips, real-life experiences, and a healthy dose of inspiration for your next train trip? Sit back, relax, and put on your headphones: boarding is now open for “Want a hit?”, the podcast that will get you hooked on trains, Produced with the support of SNCF Connect!
In this episode, Lisa welcomes Luc, an engineer who is passionate about train travel. Last year, during a three-month break, he embarked on an impressive journey of more than 31,000 km by rail thanks to a Interrail pass.
Here’s a closer look at the highlights of this adventure, her tips for getting the most out of the pass, and her unforgettable stories. Enjoy the podcast!
"What I love about Interrail is that You can show up at the train station without a plan and head off in any direction". »
"What's the biggest advantage of taking the train?" That's freedom, and the unexpected detours that turn into discoveries."
"I discovered so many local festivals in Europe", it was like going from one surprise to the next!"
With 27 countries and more than 200 trains under his belt, Luc's journey is a true epic.
Luc's Incredible Journey!
In order, he crossed: the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, and Switzerland, all the way to Istanbul. Next, it is returned to Italy to meet up with friends, before heading back up toward the Northern Europe and the Baltic States. His itinerary, which was largely improvised, then took him to Scandinavia and beyond the Arctic Circle !
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One of the most fascinating aspects of Luc's trip is how unexpected events turned into memorable experiences. For example, during his stay in Vigo, Spain, Luc discovered by chance the Reconquista Festival, a local festival celebrating the expulsion of Napoleon’s troops. Finding himself in a town filled with soldiers dressed as Napoleon in the middle of a historical festival where the tradition is to reenact the expulsion of the French was a strange experience for Luc. But of course, he was made to feel very welcome and loved the experience!
Whether it's a missed connection or a stop in a small, unfamiliar town, each stop offers a new glimpse into the local culture.
"Local festivals are like little windows into the soul of the countries you travel through."", Luc sums up.
One of the most memorable stories from his trip involves his journey between Lithuania and Latvia. With the cancellation of direct trains between the two countries following the pandemic and the rule Luc had set for himself (a trip by train only), He was forced to cross the border… on foot!
What seemed like a simple train ride turned into a 22-kilometer walk through rural landscapes with an unexpected travel companion: a Spanish YouTuber with several million subscribers.
“It was a unique experience, walking along the railroad tracks in a region where everything seemed frozen in time, surrounded by the remnants of the Soviet era.”," Luc explains.
What a wonderful tribute to the freedom that train travel can offer!
To make sure you don't miss a single episode and get plenty of inspiration from our guests, feel free to Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite streaming platforms. Thanks to our partner SNCF Connect, the go-to app for trains and sustainable transportation that helps more than 15 million users plan their trips in France and across Europe!
And if you'd like to learn more, feel free to check out:
Issue du monde de la communication et des médias, Sophie est Responsable éditoriale chez HOURRAIL ! depuis août 2024. Elle est notamment derrière le contenu éditorial du site ainsi que La Locomissive (de l'inspiration voyage bas carbone et des bons plans, un jeudi sur deux, gratuitement dans ta boîte mail !).
Convaincue que les changements d’habitude passent par la transformation de nos imaginaires, elle s’attache à montrer qu’il est possible de voyager autrement, de manière plus consciente, plus lente et plus joyeuse. Son objectif : rendre le slow travel accessible à toutes et tous, à travers des astuces, des décryptages et surtout, de nouveaux récits.
